Belgium has announced plans to invest approximately one billion euros in the construction of new military data centers over the coming years. This announcement was made by the Belgian Minister of Defence, Theo Francken, as part of the country’s military program law for 2026-2034.

The investment will be used to build several data centers in secure locations throughout Belgium. These centers are intended to guarantee the uninterrupted operation of military services, according to the draft law.

The data centers, expected to be operational by 2029, will process real-time data from drones, satellites, and other sources. This move is in line with Belgium’s strategy for digital sovereignty, which aims to reduce the country’s dependence on commercial and foreign suppliers.

In addition to storing and processing military data, these centers may also be used to store and process data from other government agencies. Minister Francken previously indicated that some of the IT infrastructure may be moved to the cloud, suggesting a hybrid approach.